Disc protection casing and drive for receiving the same

ABSTRACT

The disc protection casing includes a disc protection casing body having a disc receiving space therein. A disc holder, insertable into the interior of the disc protection casing body, has an elastic member formed at one end of the same for supporting a disc. When the disc holder is inserted into the casing body, a shoulder on the elastic member contacts a guide member in the casing body and the elastic member releases a disc supported thereby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a disc protection casing and adrive for receiving the same.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] Types of a disc are classified into a reproducing-only type suchas a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc., and a recordable type such as a WORM(Write Once Read Many) type, a rewritable type, etc. in accordance withthe number of the data writing operations.

[0005] The writable-type disc is generally placed in a disc protectioncasing such as a cartridge, to protect the disc from externalcontamination or damage.

[0006] It is required that the disc casing is designed to be opened whenchanging the disc.

[0007] Namely, when using a small size cartridge in a large size drivingapparatus, since the small size cartridge does not have a certain sizeopening for the large size driving apparatus, the small size cartridgehaving a disc therein may not be used for the large size drivingapparatus. Recently, a new cartridge capable of changing the discinserted in the casing has been introduced in order to overcome theabove-described problems.

[0008] As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge includes a cartridge body 2 forreceiving a disc 1 therein, and a disc holder 6 which may be detachablyinserted via one edge of the cartridge body 2.

[0009] An opening (not shown) is formed in the bottom of the cartridgebody 2, so that a pick-up unit of a drive can access the disc 1, and theopening is closed and opened by a shutter 4.

[0010] A receiving portion 5 is formed in the one edge of the cartridgebody 2, so that the disc 1 may be inserted into the interior of thecartridge body 2.

[0011] In the thusly constituted conventional disc cartridge, when auser wishes to insert a bare state disc (the disc is separated from thecartridge body 2) into the cartridge body 2, the user holds a certainportion of a non-recorded surface of the disc 1 to prevent the datarecorded surface from being contaminated and inserts the disc 1 into thereceiving portion 5 of the cartridge body 2 and the inserts the discholder 6 into the receiving port 5.

[0012] On the contrary, in a state that a disc 1 is already inserted inthe interior of the cartridge body 2, in order to use a bare state disc1, for removing the disc 1 from the cartridge body 2, the disc holder 6is detached from the cartridge body 2, and the disc 1 falls down bygravity due to the weight of the disc through the receiving port 5 whenthe cartridge is held upright by the user.

[0013] However, in the conventional disc cartridge, in order to insertthe disc into the interior of the cartridge body or remove the disc fromthe cartridge body, the user holds the disc and inserts the disc intothe cartridge body or holds the disc falling from the cartridge body bythe weight of the disc. In this case, the data recorded surface of thedisc may be contaminated by pollutants or the like. Therefore, the discmust be very carefully handled.

[0014] As a very high capacity and high speed disc is introduced, if thedisc is contaminated by pollutants and the like, it is impossible toreproduce the data recorded on the CD or a data reproducing error mayoccur.

[0015] In addition, discs are further classified into a disc having onerecordable surface (hereinafter called a single sided disc) and a dischaving two recordable surfaces (hereinafter called a double sided disc).

[0016] The single sided disc includes a recordable surface for recordingand reproducing data and a label surface for attaching a label thereon,and the double sided disc includes only two recordable surfaces.

[0017] In the case of the single sided disc, the data recording surfaceis opposite to the optical pick-up unit and in the case of the doublesided disc, one or both recordable surfaces of the double side disc maybe opposite to the optical pick-up unit for thereby recording andreproducing the data. In the above-described structure, the disc holder6 is inserted into the cartridge body 2 in a certain direction.

[0018] In the case of the single sided disc, the disc must be insertedin one direction, and in the case of the double sided disc, the surfaceto be recorded or reproduced must be inserted in a certain orientation.

[0019] However, when a user re-inserts a bare state single sided discinto the disc cartridge, since the conventional disc holder and thecartridge body are symmetrical, the user may erroneously insert the discholder into the cartridge body, so that the insertion direction of thedisc may be changed.

[0020] In particular, in the case of the single sided disc, even whenthe cartridge body and the disc holder are normally inserted, if thelabel surface of the disc is opposite to the optical pick-up unit cannot access the disc.

[0021] Namely, when the disc is properly inserted into the cartridgebody, and the disc holder is properly inserted thereinto, the disc isnormally recorded and reproduced. Therefore, the user must carefullyinsert the disc into the disc cartridge, so that in the conventionalart, there is much inconvenience to use the disc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea disc protection casing and a drive for receiving the same which arecapable of preventing a data recording surface of a disc from beingcontaminated when inserting and removing a disc.

[0023] It is another object of the present invention to provide a discprotection casing and a drive for receiving the same which are capableof easily separating a disc from the disc protection casing.

[0024] To achieve the above objects, there is provided a disc protectioncasing according to the present invention which includes a discprotection casing body having a disc receiving space therein, and a discholder insertable into the interior of the disc protection casing bodyand having an elastic member formed at one end of the same forsupporting the disc.

[0025] To achieve the above objects, there is also provided a discholder according to the present invention which includes an elasticmember engaged with a certain portion thereof for elastically supportinga disc, and a shoulder formed at one side of the elastic member forrotatably positioning and separating the disc in/from a receiving spaceof a drive.

[0026] In a disc protection casing and a drive for receiving the sameaccording to the present invention, a disc protection casing for asingle sided disc and a disc holder are inserted in a certain direction,and a double sided disc is inserted into a disc protection casing in acertain direction, so that it is possible to prevent an erroneousinsertion of the disc.

[0027] To achieve the above objects, there is further provided a driveaccording to the present invention which includes a receiving portionincluding a disc protection casing having a disc receiving spacetherein, and disc holder receiving receivable in the disc protectioncasing body and having one end engaged with an elastic member forsupporting a disc, and a recording and reproducing unit for recordingand reproducing data on/from a disc received in the interior of the discprotection casing.

[0028] Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the description which follows.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinabove and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention, and wherein:

[0030]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional detachable disccartridge;

[0031]FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view illustrating the structure of thea cartridge body and a disc holder according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0032]FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a state that a disc is insertedin a disc holder as shown in FIG. 2;

[0033]FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a state before a disc holder ofFIG. 2 is inserted into a cartridge body;

[0034]FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a state after a disc holder ofFIG. 2 is inserted into a cartridge body;

[0035]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

[0036]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an insertionrelationship between an adapter and a disc holder according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the structures of a disccartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention anda holder insertable into the disc cartridge;

[0038]FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view illustrating a disc cartridgeaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention and a holderinsertable in the disc cartridge;

[0039]FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view illustrating a disccartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention anda holder insertable in the disc cartridge; and

[0040]FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an optical discrecording and reproducing unit according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] The disc protection casing and a drive for receiving the sameaccording to the present invention will be explained with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, a disc cartridge according to the presentinvention includes a cartridge body 12 having a disc receiving spaceformed therein and slanted surfaces 12 a which operate as guide membersformed at an outer portion of the receiving space, and a disc holder 14having semi-circular tension arms 18 which operate as elastic membersfor elastically supporting the disc 1.

[0043] A receiving port 15 is formed in an outer edge of the cartridgebody 12, and a disc 1 inserted therethrough into the disc holder 14 isreceived into the interior of the cartridge body 12 via the receivingport 15.

[0044] The slanted surfaces 12 a are integrally formed with thecartridge body 12 in a rib shape when injection-molding the cartridgebody 12. These slanted surfaces 12 a contact with the tension arms 18when the disc holder 14 holding the disc 1 is received into thecartridge body 12, so that the tension arms 18 are pushed toward therespective lateral walls of the cartridge body 12 for thereby releasinga restricting force of the tension arms 18 with respect to the disc 1.

[0045] In addition, when the disc holder 14 is separated from thecartridge body 12, the tension arms 18 provide a certain elastic forceto the disc 1 in a radial direction of the disc 1, so that the disc 1 isnot separated from the disc holder 14.

[0046] In order to release the restriction force on the disc 1 andsupport the disc 1, shoulders 18 a which are engaged to the slantedsurfaces 12 a are integrally formed at respective outer portions of thetension arms 18 being integral with the disc holder 14 wheninjection-molding the disc holder 14, and holder portion 16 is formed atan outer edge portion of the disc holder 14 for holding the disc holder14.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the tension arms 18 elastically support thedisc 1 using a certain radial force applied toward the center portion ofthe disc 1, so that the disc 1 is stably supported by the holdingportion 16 and the tension arms 18.

[0048] The process by which the disc 1 is inserted into the cartridgebody 12 will now be explained in detail.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, a disc 1 is first inserted by a user into thedisc holder 14 through an opening formed between the outer end portionsof the tension arms 18 in the direction of arrow. As the disc 1 isinserted, the tension arms 18, are spread outwardly and upon completionof the inserting operation, the tension arms 18 elastically hold thedisc 1 against the holding portion 16.

[0050] At this state as shown in FIG. 3, the user holds the holdingportion 16 of the disc holder 14 into the cartridge body 12 via thereceiving port 15.

[0051] Upon inserting the disc holder 14 into the cartridge body 12, theshoulders 18 a formed at the tension arms 18 contact with the slantedsurfaces 12 a of the cartridge body 12 before the disc holder 14 isinserted fully.

[0052] Namely, the shoulders 18 a are moved toward the respective wallsof the cartridge body 12 along the slanted surfaces 12 a from the stateof FIG. 4 to the state of FIG. 5, so that an elastic supporting force ofthe tension arms 18 with respect to the disc 1 is released.

[0053] The disc 1 is rotatably positioned in the cartridge body 12, sothat a spindle motor (not shown) can rotate the disc 1, and the opticalpick-up unit (not shown) can access the recording surface of the disc 1.

[0054] The converse operation by which the disc holder 14 is separatedfrom the cartridge body 12 in order to remove the disc 1 from thecartridge body 12 will next be explained.

[0055] When separating the disc holder 14 from the cartridge 12, therestriction force exerted by the slanted surfaces 12 a to the shoulders18 a is released, so that the tension arms 18 support the disc 1 by anelastic recovering force of the tension arms 18.

[0056] At this time, since a concave slanted surface 18 b is formed inend portion of each tension arm 18, even when the disc 1 is moved up anddown in the cartridge body 12, the disc 1 is stably guided to the centerportion of the tension arms 18 a, so that the tension arms 18 stablysupport the disc 1.

[0057] In the present invention, since the tension arms 18 whichelastically support the disc 1 need have only a certain thicknesscompared to the height of the edge of the disc 1, the thickness of thedisc holder 14 can be made small.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 7, in order to record and reproduce a small sizerecording medium (for example, when the diameter of the disc is 80 mm)using a disc driving apparatus which is capable of recording orreproducing a large size recording medium (for example, when thediameter of the disc is 120 mm), a slanted surface (not shown) which hasthe above-described function may be formed in the interior of an adapter140 having an outer size which is the same as the cartridge body of thelarge size recording medium for the reason that a certain compatibilitywith respect to other apparatuses is obtained because almost all drivingapparatuses are recently designed to drive a large size recordingmedium.

[0059] In this case, the user can detachably mount the disc holder 14with the disc 1 therein at the receiving port 141 of the adapter 140.

[0060] In the drawings, reference numeral “I” designated a lengthdifference between the large size recording medium and the small sizerecording medium. The end portion 14 a of the disc holder 14 is moved upto the center end portion 140 a of the adapter 140 when inserting thedisc holder 14 in the adapter 140 for thereby obtaining a certain sizeopening.

[0061] The disc cartridge according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention includes a certain structure so that the cartridgebody and the disc holder can be inserted only in a certain orientation.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 8, a groove 22 a which is formed eccentricallyin a leftward or rightward direction is formed in the cartridge body 22,and a protrusion 26 a is formed on the disc holder 24 to be matinglyinsertable into the groove 22 a.

[0063] The protrusion 26 a is formed on the holding portion 26 and iseccentrically formed leftwardly or rightwardly to be opposite to thegroove 22 a.

[0064] Therefore, since the groove 22 a and the protrusion engagableonly in a certain opposed orientation, the disc holder 24 is received inthe cartridge body 22 only in a certain orientation.

[0065] Namely, the disc holder 24 is not received in the cartridge body22 in a state that the groove 22 a does not correspond to the protrusion26 a.

[0066] A guide message 24 a is written on the upper surface of the discholder 24 for guiding an insertion direction when the disc 1 is insertedinto the cartridge body 22.

[0067] As the guide message, there are “Recordable side of disc” or“Label side of disc” in accordance with the data recording surface orlabel surface of the disc 1, so that a user can recognize the insertiondirection of the disc 1.

[0068] Therefore, the user can insert the disc holder into the cartridgebody 22 in a certain orientation based on an asymmetrical shape of thecartridge body 22 and the disc holder 24, and the insertion direction ofthe disc 1 is coincided with the insertion direction of the cartridgebody 22 and the disc holder 24 based on the guide message 24 a.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 9, the disc cartridge according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention includes a cartridge body 32 havingan asymmetrically shaped receiving port 33, and a disc holder 34 havingan asymmetrically shaped end portion corresponding to the receiving port33.

[0070] In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the width W_(L) between thereceiving port 33 and the left edge portion of the disc holder 34received in the receiving port 33 is wider than the width W_(R) of theright edge portion.

[0071] Namely, if the shape of the disc holder 34 received in thecartridge body 32 is not coincided with the shape of the receiving port33 of the cartridge body 32, the disc holder 34 is not receivedthereinto, so that a certain insertion orientation is implemented.

[0072] A guide message 34 a is formed on the upper surface of the discholder 34 as shown in FIG. 9 to inform the user of the insertionorientation of the disc 1 in the same manner as in the embodiment ofFIG. 8.

[0073]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a disc cartridgeaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] As shown therein, the disc cartridge according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention includes a cartridge body 42 inwhich a rail 43 a is protruded from a lateral wall of a receiving port43, and a disc holder 44 having a groove 44 a which is opposite to therail 43 a.

[0075] In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the rail 43 a is formed only at aleft lateral wall of the receiving port 43 and has a certain height, anda rail is not formed at the right lateral wall.

[0076] Namely, when the disc holder 44 is inserted into the cartridgebody 42, if the groove 44 a in the disc holder 44 and the rail 43 a ofthe cartridge 42 are not corresponding engaged with each other, the discholder 44 is not received into the cartridge body 42. Therefore, thedisc holder 44 is received only in a certain orientation.

[0077] A guide message 44 b is formed on the upper surface of the discholder 44 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention to informthe user of the insertion orientation of the disc 1 in the same manneras in the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0078] In the adapter 140 of FIG. 7 which is used for recording andreproducing a double sided or single sided recording medium using a discdriving apparatus capable of recording or reproducing a large sizedrecording medium, the receiving port 141 of the adapter 140 and the discholder 14 received in the receiving port 141 are asymmetrically formed,so that the disc holder 14 is received into the adapter 140 only in acertain orientation.

[0079] In this case, a guide message may be printed on a certain portionof the adapter 140 to inform the user of the insertion orientation of asmall sized recording medium.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 11, the disc recording and reproducing unit 50which drives the disc 1 includes an optical pick-up unit 51 recordingand reproducing data on/from the disc 1, an optical pick-up unittransport unit 51 the optical pick-up unit 51, a data processing unit 52processing the data inputted and transferring the processed data to theoptical pick-up 51, an interface unit 53, and a controller 55controlling the operations of the above-described elements. Theinterface unit 53 of the optical disc recording apparatus is connectedwith a host 56, so that certain instructions and data 57 arecommunicated therebetween.

[0081] As described above, the disc protection casing and a drive forreceiving the same according to the present invention are capable ofpreventing a data recording surface of a disc from being contaminatedwhen inserting and removing the disc.

[0082] In the present invention, since the disc is inserted in the discholder, a user is able to easily insert a disc into a cartridge andremove the disc from the cartridge.

[0083] In the single sides disc cartridge according to the presentinvention, since the cartridge body and the disc holder areasymmetrically formed, a certain insertion orientation is implementedfor thereby preventing an erroneous operation of the apparatus.

[0084] In the present invention, since there is provided a guide messagefor informing a user of the insertion orientation of the disc, it ispossible to prevent an erroneous insertion of the disc holder into thecartridge body.

[0085] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciated that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible. Without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas recited in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A disc cartridge comprising: a cartridge body havinga receiving space therein, a receiving port formed at an outer edgethereof, and a rib acting as a guide member formed at an outer peripheryof the receiving space; and a disc holder insertable into the cartridgebody, the disc holder having a pair of semi-circular tension arms forgrasping a disc therebetween, each tension arm having a shoulder beingintegrally formed at an outer lateral portion of the tension arm andextended outwardly therefrom for contacting and engaging the rib in thecartridge body as the disc holder is inserted into the cartridge body,whereby, as the disc holder is inserted into the cartridge body, theshoulders are guided along the rib outwardly toward respective lateralwalls of the cartridge body so that the tension arms integrally formedwith the shoulders are pushed outwardly toward the respective lateralwalls of the cartridge body for thereby releasing the disc graspedtherebetween.
 2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the rib is inclinedto act as a linear cam for guiding the shoulders formed integrally atthe outer lateral portions of the tension arms when the disc holder isinserted into the cartridge body.
 3. The cartridge of claim 1, whereinthe disc holder has a holding portion that engages with the receivingport, and the shoulders extend from the tension arms at outer lateralportions thereof intermediate outer grasping ends of the tension armsand the holding portion.
 4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein eachtension arm has a semi-circular inner portion, the outer lateral portionhas a length defined by a distance from the holding portion to an endportion thereof, the inner portion has a length defined by a distancefrom the holding portion to an end portion thereof, and the length ofthe outer lateral portion being less than the length of the innerportion.
 5. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein each tension arm has asemi-circular inner portion, and the outer lateral portion extends fromthe holding portion less than the inner portion.
 6. The cartridge ofclaim 1, wherein each tension arm has a semi-circular inner portion andhas a groove formed thereon for receiving a periphery of the disc. 7.The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the disc holder further includes: aholding portion for engaging with the receiving port; and a lockingmeans formed adjacent to the holding portion for cooperating with aninner surface of the cartridge body to allow the disc holder tooperatively engage and disengage with the cartridge body.
 8. A discdrive comprising: a receiving portion for receiving a cartridge body anda disc holder insertable into the cartridge body, the cartridge bodyhaving a receiving space therein, a receiving port formed at an outeredge thereof, and a rib acting as a guide member formed at an outerperiphery of the receiving space, and the disc holder having a pair ofsemi-circular tension arms for grasping a disc therebetween, eachtension arm having a shoulder being integrally formed at an outerlateral portion of the tension arm and extended outwardly therefrom forcontacting and engaging the rib in the cartridge body as the disc holderis inserted into the cartridge body; and a recording and reproducingunit operatively connected with the receiving port for recording dataonto and reproducing data from the disc released by the disc holder,whereby, as the disc holder is inserted into the cartridge body, theshoulders are guided along the rib outwardly toward respective lateralwalls of the cartridge body so that the tension arms integrally formedwith the shoulders are pushed outwardly toward the respective lateralwalls of the cartridge body for thereby releasing the disc graspedtherebetween.
 9. The disc drive of claim 8, wherein the rib is inclinedto act as a linear cam for guiding the shoulders formed integrally atthe outer lateral portions of the tension arms when the disc holder isinserted into the cartridge body.
 10. The disc drive of claim 8, whereinthe disc holder has a holding portion that engages with the receivingport, and the shoulders extend from the tension arms at outer lateralportions thereof intermediate outer grasping ends of the tension armsand the holding portion, and wherein each tension arm has asemi-circular inner portion, and the outer lateral portion extends fromthe holding portion less than the semi-circular inner portion.
 11. Thedisc drive of claim 8, wherein the rib has wedge-shaped portions thatrespectively contact and engage with the shoulder of each tension arm.12. A disk protection casing, comprising: a casing body having areceiving space therein and an access port formed in a first side of thecasing body; and a disk holder insertable into an interior of the casingbody via the access port, and one of the disk holder and the first sideof the casing body being structured such that the disk holder isprevented from being incorrectly inserted into the casing body, the diskholder including an elastic member for supporting a disk therein and forreleasing the disk into the receiving space.
 13. A disk protectioncasing, comprising: a casing body having a receiving space therein andan access port; and a disk holder insertable into the casing body viathe access port; wherein the disk holder comprises an end portion, afirst surface of the end portion having an elevated portion of a firstlength, and a second surface of the end portion having an elevatedportion of a second length different from the first length, wherein thefirst and second elevated portions permit the disk holder to be insertedinto the casing body in only one way.
 14. The disk protection casing ofclaim 13, wherein the access port comprises a first indentation forreceiving the elevated portion of the first surface and a secondindentation for receiving the elevated portion of the second surface.15. The disk protection casing of claim 14, wherein the disk holderincludes an elastic member for supporting a disk therein and releasingthe disk into the receiving space.
 16. The disk protection casing ofclaim 15, wherein the disk holder cooperates with the casing body forreleasing the disk into the receiving space.
 17. The disk protectioncasing of claim 13, wherein the disk holder comprises symmetrical,opposing tension arms for holding a disk.